How computer glasses can ease digital eye strain

By All About Vision

What are the symptoms of computer vision syndrome?

If you or your child spend more than two hours per day in front of a
computer screen, it's likely you will experience some degree of computer
vision syndrome. Symptoms of computer vision syndrome (or digital eye strain) include:

What causes computer vision syndrome?

Computer eye strain and computer vision syndrome are caused by our eyes and
brain reacting differently to characters on a computer screen than they
do to printed characters. Our eyes have little problem focusing on
printed material that has dense black characters with well-defined
edges. But characters on a computer screen don't have the same degree of
contrast and definition.

Words and images on a computer screen
are created by combinations of tiny points of light (pixels), which are
brightest at the center and diminish in intensity toward their edges.
This makes it more difficult for our eyes to maintain focus on them.
Instead, our eyes want to drift to a reduced level of focusing called
the "resting point of accommodation" or RPA.

Our eyes
involuntarily move to the RPA and then strain to regain focus on the
screen. This continuous flexing of the eyes' focusing muscles creates
the fatigue and eye strain that commonly occur during and after computer
use.

What can I do about it?

To reduce your risk of computer eye strain and computer vision syndrome, see an eye doctor who specializes in computer vision care.

Using proper computer eyewear can prevent eye strain.

During a computer vision exam, your eye doctor
will perform tests to detect any vision problems that might contribute
to CVS. Depending on the outcome of the exam, your doctor may prescribe computer glasses to help you work more comfortably at your computer.

In addition to increasing comfort during computer use, recent studies have shown that computer eyeglasses can increase computer work productivity, with cost savings to employers who provide the eyewear.

Will glare screens prevent CVS?

Anti-glare filters for computer screens may increase comfort somewhat, but they
will not solve all your computer vision problems. These filters only
reduce glare from reflections on the computer screen and do not reduce
the visual problems related to the constant refocusing of your eyes when
you work at a computer.

In order to reduce computer-related eye strain effectively, you may need computer eyewear to help your eyes focus on your screen more comfortably. Also, anti-reflective coating is highly recommended for computer eyeglasses. Anti-reflective (AR) coating reduces reflections on the front and back surfaces of eyeglass lenses that cause glare and interfere with your ability to focus on images on your screen.

Will computer eyeglasses make the screen clearer?

Yes, because computer glasses eliminate the constant refocusing effort that your eyes go through when viewing the screen.

Also, clinical studies have shown that having the correct prescription in
computer eyeglasses increases productivity and accuracy.

Do computer eyeglasses look like safety glasses?

No. Almost any style of frame can be used for computer glasses.

What kinds of lenses are prescribed for computer glasses?

The best type of lenses for computer glasses usually depends on your age.
If you are in your 40s or older, it's likely you have some degree of presbyopia. If so, multifocal lenses will usually be your best choice because they provide better depth of focus than single vision lenses. This will let you see your computer screen clearly and also see
objects that are closer and farther away than your screen.

Single vision lenses also are a good solution for computer glasses, though
your depth of focus will be more limited with these lenses if you are
presbyopic. Your eye doctor will help you decide whether multifocal or
single vision lenses are the best solution for your work environment and
your visual needs.

What about tints for computer lenses?

If you work in a brightly lit office, it might be a good idea to have a mild tint added to the lenses of your computer glasses.

Lightly tinted lenses will reduce the amount of light entering your eyes to
more comfortable levels and may help reduce eye strain.

But be aware that tints alone don't address the underlying cause of computer eye strain, which is focusing fatigue.

Does every computer user need computer glasses?

With studies suggesting that most computer users experience some level of
eye discomfort from computer work, it's reasonable to say that most
people who work on a computer more than a couple hours daily could
benefit from computer eyewear.

If you experience tired eyes, overall fatigue or discomfort when working at your computer, schedule a
computer vision exam. Your eye doctor can help you decide if computer eyeglasses are right for you.

If I don't have symptoms of CVS, do I still need computer eyewear?

Maybe. According to a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School
of Optometry, even computer users who are not experiencing computer
vision syndrome symptoms might benefit from computer glasses.

The study found that computer workers with no visual complaints often
experience reduced productivity and accuracy at the computer. So even if
you don't notice eye strain or other symptoms of CVS, it's a good idea
to get an eye exam from a computer vision specialist if you spend a good amount of time each day in front of a computer.

Will my reading glasses work at the computer?

Reading glasses usually are not the best solution for computer use.

Eyeglasses prescribed for reading typically will optimize your vision at a
distance of 14 to 16 inches from your eyes, which is considered the
standard reading distance. But for the greatest comfort, your computer
screen should be positioned farther away — at a distance of 20 to 24
inches from your eyes. For the best vision at this distance, a different
eyeglass prescription is usually required.

Does computer vision syndrome affect worker productivity?

Yes,
research has shown that this is true. Even in cases when a computer
worker's vision correction is only slightly off, productivity and
accuracy at the computer can still suffer.

And as the day progresses, these losses increase. Using your eyes to view a computer for many hours a day is analogous to your eye muscles being forced to do push-ups for hours and hours. Over time,
muscle fatigue will significantly affect productivity, accuracy and
comfort. Computer glasses can reduce eye fatigue and improve
productivity.

Isn't ergonomics the solution to computer eye strain?

Ergonomics is important — changing your computer workstation to facilitate good
posture can certainly help minimize some physical symptoms of CVS. But
ergonomics alone cannot solve a visual problem. Wearing prescription
computer eyeglasses typically is more helpful than ergonomics for
reducing the risk of computer eye strain.

Will wearing computer eyeglasses make my eyes worse?

No.
In fact, wearing specially prescribed computer glasses when working at
your computer might help keep your eyes from getting worse by reducing
excessive focusing demands on your eyes. This is particularly true for
teenagers, whose eyes may be more susceptible to progressive
nearsightedness from focusing fatigue.